Topamax belongs to a class of drugs called anticonvulsants. (A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.) Anticonvulsant drugs work in your brain to help prevent seizures.
What kind of medicine is Topamax?
Generic Name: topiramate Topiramate is used alone or with other medications to prevent and control seizures (epilepsy). This medication is also used to prevent migraine headaches and decrease how often you get them. Topiramate will not treat a migraine headache once it occurs.
Is topiramate a controlled substance?
1 Phentermine/topiramate is a controlled substance (U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] schedule IV).
Is Topamax a stimulant?
Combination ofPhentermineAppetite suppressant/stimulant of the amphetamine and phenethylamine classIs Topamax a narcotic?
Topamax (generic name: topiramate) is not classified as a controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Topamax is an anticonvulsant (seizure) medication, but is also prescribed for other conditions such as prevention of migraine.
Is topiramate a painkiller?
Topiramate is most commonly used for the treatment of certain types of epileptic seizures. It has since been found to be effective for certain types of pain, including migraine pain and nerve pain.
Is Topamax the same as gabapentin?
Are Topamax and Neurontin the Same Thing? Topamax (topiramate) and Neurontin (gabapentin) are anticonvulsants used to treat and prevent epileptic seizures. Topamax is also used to prevent migraine headaches. Neurontin is also used to treat nerve pain caused by shingles (herpes zoster).
Is Topamax a mood stabilizer?
Topiramate is a novel anticonvulsant agent with a broad spectrum mechanism of action, and recent clinical reports indicate that it may have mood stabilizing properties in bipolar disorder.Is Topamax good for anxiety?
The study found that the participants taking Topamax in addition to their prescribed depression medication significantly improved depressed mood, suicidality, insomnia, agitation, and anxiety symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.
Can topiramate cause a positive drug test?Conclusion: Topiramate treatment may well be a cause of false positives in DSTs, and its presence should be taken into consideration when screening for hypercortisolism.
Article first time published onWhy is Topamax a hazardous drug?
Topiramate can increase the level of acid in your blood (metabolic acidosis). This can weaken your bones, cause kidney stones, or cause growth problems in children or harm to an unborn baby.
What is an alternative to Topamax?
Lamotrigine is equally effective as topiramate for the preventive treatment of migraine with aura and exhibits a better tolerability profile.
Can you drink alcohol with topiramate?
Because topiramate can cause mental and psychological side effects, it’s not recommended that you drink alcohol while taking topiramate.
Is Topamax an anti inflammatory?
Topiramate modulates post-infarction inflammation primarily by targeting monocytes or macrophages.
Why is low carb bad while taking Topamax?
Topiramate can increase body temperature and decrease sweating, leading to life-threatening dehydration (especially in children). Avoid the use of a ketogenic or “ketosis” diet (high in fat, low in carbohydrates) while you are taking topiramate. Topiramate may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions.
Can Topamax cause brain damage?
An open study examined the behavioral and cognitive effects of topiramate as add-on treatment in children and adolescents with mild to severe mental retardation [Coppola et al. 2008]. The authors reported a significant cognitive deterioration in about 70% of patients at 3 months, persisting in about 20% at 12 months.
Will 25 mg of Topamax cause weight loss?
Topamax for weight loss Topamax isn’t approved for weight loss. However, the drug may reduce your appetite, which may lead you to lose weight. In clinical studies, weight loss occurred in 6% to 17% of people who took Topamax.
Can I stop 25 mg Topamax cold turkey?
Never stop taking Topamax suddenly, or “cold turkey”, because this may cause you to have an increased risk of seizures, more frequent seizures, or other serious withdrawal symptoms.
What should you not take with Topamax?
- Valproic acid (brand name examples: Depakote). …
- Zonisamide (brand name example: Zonegran). …
- Glaucoma medications, including eye drops.
- Birth control pills. …
- Any medicines that impair or decrease your thinking, concentration, or muscle coordination.
Is Topamax a good drug?
Topamax has an average rating of 6.1 out of 10 from a total of 542 ratings on Drugs.com. 52% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 29% reported a negative effect.
Does Topamax help you sleep?
Benefits of topiramate treatment have been maintained for a mean period of 8.5 months. Conclusions: Topiramate may be of benefit for patients with NES or SRED in reducing nocturnal eating, improving nocturnal sleep, and producing weight loss.
Does Topamax keep you awake?
As may happen with the use of any prescription drug, there is a potential risk for side effects when using Topamax. Although most people do not experience most or any of these side effects, some that may occur include: Slowed thinking (leading to the nickname “Dope-a-max”) Fatigue or sleepiness.
Is topiramate an antipsychotic?
Topiramate has been approved as a weight loss drug with concomitant use of phentermine by the US Drug Administration (FDA) [33], and most previous studies’ results also revealed that topiramate has a significant antipsychotic effect and weight loss, although not all studies’ results related to the effects of topiramate …
Is Topamax a sedating?
Topamax Side Effects. Topamax has a number of common side effects, which its manufacturer states are “mild to moderate.” One common side effect of the drug is somnolence, or sleepiness. Some doctors and patients have dubbed the drug “Sleepomax” because of its heavy sedative effects.
What are the long term side effects of topiramate?
Long-term side effects of Topamax Most Topamax side effects aren’t permanent, and go away with time. For example, fatigue (low energy) and feelings of burning or numbness in your hands and feet may go away as you continue taking Topamax.
Does Topamax make it hard to orgasm?
Doctors also have described cases in which Topamax completely blocked women’s ability to achieve orgasm (Neurology, Oct. 25, 2005). About five days after discontinuing the Topamax under medical supervision, the women were once again able to climax. Never stop an epilepsy drug suddenly without your doctor’s approval.
How long do you stay on Topamax for migraines?
For migraines, it can take 1 month for migraine attacks to be less frequent. But it can take 2 to 3 months for topiramate to fully work. Once your condition is under control, you’ll usually need to keep taking topiramate for many years.
Does Topamax make you pee a lot?
Can topiramate (Topamax) make me urinate more often? The medication itself won’t make you urinate more often. However, it’s recommended to drink plenty of liquids when taking topiramate (Topamax) to prevent kidney stones. Drinking more water may cause you to urinate more often.
Does Topamax have a black box warning?
There are no FDA Black Box Warnings for topiramate.
What is the newest medication for migraines?
On September 28th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a once-daily oral medicine, Qulipta (atogepant), for preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. It is the second FDA-approved, oral anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) drug for preventing migraine.
Can B12 deficiency cause migraines?
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) deficiency has been long suspected to play a role in the development of migraines, but so far it has not been directly linked to migraines.
